236 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



indentation with all the precision the instruments and science of 

 the time would^ permit. At last he found a great opening of 

 the sea towards the west : he took possession of the northern 

 coast for the King of Spain, and named the gulf Fresh-Water 

 Sea. Subsequently, finding that it was a river, and that silver- 

 mines existed there, he named the stream Rio de la Plata. The 

 Indians called it Paraguaza. He found the country fertile and 

 attractive, and an abundance of the wood which had given to 

 the whole region the name of Brazil. He went on shore with a 

 small party, but soon fell into an ambuscade laid for them by 



FATE OF DE SOLIS AND HIS COMPANIONS. 



the natives.*. Solis and five of his companions were taken, 

 killed, roasted, and devoured by the horrible cannibals who in- 

 habited the country. The Spaniards who remained on board 

 the ships witnessed the shocking catastrophe, which so appalled 

 and horrified them that they fled in dismay and sailed hastily 

 back to Spain. 



